Duetto

The Italian Salvatore Licitra and the Argentinian Marcelo Alvarez are, arguably the two most exciting, promising (they're in their 30s), big-voiced, bread-and-butter (or steak-and-potatoes) "Italian" tenors around. Yhey have proved themselves on the stages of the great opera houses of the world and on recordings. This CD is designed to present them to a wider audience--it is clearly meant to appeal to Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli fans. And, in fact, it succeeds. These guys have glorious voices: Licitra's is darker and somewhat heavier than Alvarez's, but the latter's shine is irresistible; one might compare them to Domingo and Pavarotti, respectively, to make that point. Neither has any problem throughout his entire range; each has big, secure top notes, and there's an innate musical intelligence at work at all times. Opera fans will relish the fantastic singing--listening to them trade high B naturals in the CD's third song, "Odissea," is thrilling--but will probably be disappointed by the music. It's soupily arranged, sentimental background drivel with catchy melodies (parts of "Salut demeure" from Gounod's Faust show up in something called "Son gli occhi tuoi," complete with a stellar high C from Alvarez), and even the gorgeous duet from Bizet's Les Pêcheurs de Perles (one of two "classical" pieces on the CD, if one doesn't count an instrumental piece by Bach to which trite lyrics have been added) has been re-arranged to include a tinny chorus, when singing it as written would have been a magnificent treat. Their voices are bathed in a phony-pop glow which will please the Bocelli market while continuing to horrify purists. Yet it is impossible not to be bowled over by the singing--a few off-pitch-at-low-volume moments and a mess of a "Je crois entendre encore" aside. In short, two high-power, world-class operatic tenors in their prime, singing, for the most part, music in which the treacle level is obnoxiously--even dangerously--high. --Robert Levine Amazon.com

Sooo Romantic!

If you need the perfect soundtrack for the perfect candlelit evening, look no further. This cd, a little wine and a ring... if she doesn't say "yes!" she's not worthy. I don't understand a word of it (except one song in English) but it melts me every time. The vocals are exquisitely intertwined in powerfully sensual and sentimental melodies... definitely a mood setter. You don't need to speak Italian to hear the message of deeply passionate, eternal love. This is neither opera nor Josh Groban- somewhere in the middle. Absolutely beautiful. September 26, 2007

Duetto

beautiful music, just wonderful to listen to, relax with a glass of wine, good company or book. Have bought two, one for me, one for an opera loving friend. September 19, 2007

Duetto perfecto!

My wife and I first heard this on Classical Arts Station (Il Vivo) and immediately fell in love with it. These tenors are world class and show all the emotions that make listeners almost weep with the output. Yes, one of them is possible to be the replacement for PAVAROTTI, but please have them produce another duetto with Italian arias maybe outside the Duomo in Florence. September 17, 2007

Great CD and Voices.

I love tenors and Italian music. Groban, Safina, Bocelli, Frangolis. These two men are in their category, and one of them even sounds like Safina. Very pleasant to listen in the car and in my office. I can listen more than once a day. You have to listen more than once. Don't expect to fall in love from the first sound.

Some critisizm:
a)One of the tenors is using to much vibrato, since it's popera... otherwise it's sounds great.
b)Duetto needs to be a Tenor - Soprano. These two guys should make separate CDs with two ladies. Groban does it very well! October 18, 2005

The young tenors.

The amazing part of this album is that two young tenors can make as much music as three tenors (Carreras · Domingo · Pavarotti) have in the past. Salvatore Licitra and Marcelo Alvarez are the future - there is a balance in how they sing together, adding strength to rather than competing with one another. September 12, 2005

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